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The United Healthcare Health Insurance Company is a division of UnitedHealth Group, which is a major health insurance carrier in the United States. United Healthcare (UHC) is a company offering health insurance products to over 70 million Americans. If you are considering changing health insurance companies, or are looking for your first policy, you may want to consider the products offered by United Healthcare and compare them to your other prospective providers.
United Healthcare offers a number of health insurance plans. The company claims to be committed to offering a quality product at a price that consumers can afford. In a situation where a standard policy doesn’t give you the level of coverage you need, United Healthcare customers can add optional benefits or a rider to the policy.
After you have read through this United Healthcare review then be sure and read the reviews of United Healthcare written by customers of UHC at the bottom of the page (or be sure and leave your own review of UHC health insurance!) Once you have finished the review of United Healthcare then be sure and use the free quote tool to compare quotes from top health insurance providers for free online!
One of the greatest benefits to choosing a UHC health insurance plan is that UnitedHealth Group is the single largest health carrier in the US. The size of United Healthcare is a huge advantage to its members because of its extremely large network of Doctors and Hospitals allow for tremendous convenience and cost savings.
UHC offers co-pay insurance plans to its customers because they have similar benefits as employer health plans. Under a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, the subscriber is required to pay a set amount for each office visit and preventive care visit when consulting a doctor who is participating in the network. After the co-payment has been made, the insurer will cover the cost of the services provided, up to the limit stated on the policy.
Many plans will pay for the full cost (100%) of the fee for the consultation and exam. Prescription drugs are usually included in this type of plan as well. The subscriber is responsible for paying a set co-pay for each prescription medication. If you are considering a health insurance plan with a co-pay, you will want to ask whether you have coverage for generic drug only, or if your coverage extends to brand name medications as well. (You may need to pay a higher amount if you want to get something other than a generic medication.) Be aware that even if it does cover name brand medications, there may be a preferred list and some they just won’t cover.
United Healthcare offers a Golden Rule insurance plan (United Healthcare individual health insurance plans are marketed under different names in different states – Golden Rule, United HealthOne, PacifiCare, American Medical Security, and AMS) that pays for medical expenses (in-patient and out-patient) up to a lifetime limit of $3 million. Customers have the option of buying a policy with a lifetime limit of $5 million as well.
Generally speaking, a higher lifetime limit is a good idea if you can afford the coverage. If you were involved in a serious accident or were diagnosed with a chronic illness, the cost of your care would add up very quickly. Once you reach the lifetime limit, you will be responsible for paying for your medical care out of your own pocket, which is a situation you will want to avoid.
If you are willing and able to pay for the cost of your regular healthcare yourself, choosing a high-deductible health insurance plan from United Healthcare may be the right choice for you. When you choose a plan with a higher deductible, you save money on the cost of your premium payments. The insurance company will pay only benefits once you meet your deductible.
This option is a good choice for people who are relatively healthy and who don’t anticipate needing to see a doctor often. It is a product designed to meet the needs to people who are more focuses on wanting to buy health coverage to protect them from major medical expenses.
UHC short term health insurance is designed to fill in gaps in coverage for up to six months at a time. A person who has lost his or her job or who has recently graduated from college and doesn’t have employer health insurance coverage would likely be interested in this kind of insurance coverage. Someone who is taking early retirement would benefit from this plan as well.
United Healthcare offers several deductible levels for short term insurance. You can choose the payment options and length of coverage that makes sense for your situation. If you get coverage from another carrier, you can drop your short-term coverage at any point, without penalty.
The student health insurance plans offered by United Healthcare protect students 24 hours a day, whether they are on campus or not. Students can participate in United’s PPO, which has member physicians nationwide. A help line staffed by registered nurses is also available to subscribers to answer questions they may have. You can also use the number above to talk to independent agents who can help you to compare the various plans, policies and providers you are considering.
Now that you have some information about the kinds of products that United Healthcare Health Insurance Company provides, why don’t you take the next step and get some quotes for your coverage? The free insurance tool at the top of the page is here to help. Just click on it and you can get started comparing rates from many different health insurance providers online right now!
13 Customer Reviews of “United Healthcare Health Insurance Company”
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Review by Joel, July 2, 2009
I live in Florida and have had the Golden Rule United Healthcare HSA 100 health insurance plan for almost 3 years now and I have always been very satisfied with them.
I try to contribute the full amount to my HSA every year (I have my HSA with the UnitedHealth Group owned bank Optum Health Bank – formerly Exante Bank) and I am very happy for the tax break that the HSA provides.
Overall I would definitely recommend UHC especially their Health Savings Account plan.
Review by Angela, July 3, 2009
United Healthcare has a great prescription discount. I’ve been really happy with them so far.
Review by Sherry Adkins, July 6, 2009
UHC has the largest network throughout the U.S. I loved this company when on group and am looking forward to same service as an individual.
Review by Katerina Kezemides, July 6, 2009
UHC is great, I have had the same insurance for years and never had a bad experience.
Review by Traci Finlay, July 6, 2009
I had United Healthcare throughout the pregnancy of my second child. I was very satisfied with it; I never had to dispute any unnecessary bills or payments. It was also widely accepted with my doctor and the specialists to which she sent me. My only complaint was that the copay was a lot higher than my previous (and current) health insurance provider.
Review by Sarah Ohman, July 7, 2009
Recently I purchased health insurance from the GoldenRule United Healthcare Company. As a young professional with limited funds, I was looking for a comprehensive plan that would not break the bank: I found it with GoldenRule. The application was easy and straightforward and the customer service was helpful and timely. I also appreciated the wide range of plans GoldenRule offered and the way it allowed me to find the perfect plan to meet my needs. I have, and would recommend, United Healthcare to anyone who is looking for an affordable and comprehensive healthcare plan.
Review by Greg Routhier, July 8, 2009
United Healthcare Insurance has great coverage, but the customer service experience I have had is less than exceptional. I believe that the policy is fairly priced compared to what it offers.
Review by steve, July 9, 2009
I purchased Golden Rule over two years ago in Florida. I now live in Delaware and have been very satisfied with my insurance. They offer everything I need.
Review by Marcia Cummings, February 19, 2010
I can’t tell you how horrendous UHC is. Have been a member for six year through my empliyer. They deliberately delay and deny claims. My young son is a cancer survivor and UHC made my life a living nightmare with denials and delays. To get paid, I have to keep separate files on each doctor or provider used, and track with a monthly phone log of who I spoke with and what was said. I have six years of these records. Today was on the phone with Kingley, who told me that she couldn’t discuss denied claims for my husband without written authorization from him. I have been speaking for him on denied claims for all this time. Then she put me on hold and after a 30 minute wait I am now going back in through the 800 number on the back of the card. Once I got through to that number, I was told they had to give me another 800 number. This is just to let you know what it is like to deal with UHC.
Review by Kellie Faigle, March 22, 2010
I have been covered by UHC through my employer and my spouses employer for the past 4 years. I rarely visit the doctor as I am quite healthy other than seasonal allergies and other little issues, but every visit resulted in denials of basic coverages that were promised to me. They even changed my policy and then went back to charge me for visits before the changes were in effect…. horrible company!! When I called the company to get the coverage I paid for, they argued until I showed them exactly where the policy said it was covered, but then their office denied my claim again anyway!!! AGGHH!! Eventually, I decided not to argue and it wasn’t worth the cost of hiring a lawyer -just $200 here, another $100 there. And as for network… many doctors who acccept UHC want patient to pay upfront and then patient can get reimbursed -guess they have trouble getting money out of UHC too. Pretty happy to be losing this coverage -will not be going through them again.
Review by John, April 27, 2010
First, let me say that I used to have UHC River Valley insurance for a couple years, and was always happy with it. Now that I said that, I can tell you that I also happen to work in a medical billing department, and can say that UHC is without a doubt the WORST insurance company EVER! Their claims are constantly done wrong. I’d say nearly 20-30% of all claims are processed incorrectly. Their customer service is horrible also. It is extremely rare to call them and find someone that actually knows what they are talking about. Like I said though, I had no problems with my own claims, but I see constant problems from them everyday. I would be very wary of getting a UHC policy.
Review by Nancy Hoffman, June 30, 2010
I just read an article that says, “Hospital executives rank United Healthcare as the worst insurance company in the United States.” (It is available here: http://www.allbusiness.com/health-care/health-care-facilities). This will come as no surprise to many members and providers alike. Like many others, I want to share my recent experience with United Health Care so that people can decide for themselves whether or not this is the kind of health insurance they feel they want to purchase for their families.
I am a neuropsychologist and was asked to see a UHC member for neuropsychological testing. I filled out all of the appropriate forms required by United Healthcare and received a telephone call authorizing me to test their member. They gave me a cap on the hours (13 hours total) and an authorization number. I provided the services as promised and then sent the appropriate claim to the United Healthcare offices. When they sent me the check, there was a note on the Explanation of Benefits saying I had agreed to a discounted fee (an approximately 50% discount, mind you) through an organization called MultiPlan (If you haven’t heard of them, you’re in for a treat. They contract with insurance companies to try to persuade clinicians to agree to a reduced fee and they get paid a percentage of what they “save” the insurance company.) Needless to say, I do not and never will have an agreement with this company, as I do not support business practices such as this.
When I contacted United Healthcare to straighten this out, they told me I had to deal with MultiPlan. Multiplan never answers their phone (I wonder why) so I got nowhere until I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. This got the attention of Cindy Hernandez, a Consumer Affairs Advocate for UHC (1-800-842-2656). She researched this issue and came up with a fabulous solution! She decided that United Healthcare had authorized this treatment in error and paid me in error AFTER I HAD RENDERED THE AUTHORIZED TREATMENT to their member. They then “recalculated” the claim form and decided that I actually owe THEM money! They have asked for the entire amount back ($966.68). They have a very fancy way of explaining their “logic” and have added that the original error was with their processor and they have arranged for her “to receive additional training or other intervention as appropriate.”
With a second patient, they attempted to get me to accept a reduced fee through MultiPlan for another member and I declined. After that, they refused to pay me AT ALL for the services I provided to the other member while he was in the hospital. United Healthcare also authorized these services and the correct authorization number was submitted with the claims.
In both cases the services were requested by a physician and approved by United Healthcare. The services were rendered as authorized and the appropriate claims were filed. Unfortunately – and this really is the sad part – both of these claims will have to be paid in full by the members. These claims total thousands of dollars.
As I’m sure many of you know, United Healthcare is the focus of a Class Action Lawsuit in New York because of their questionable business practices. When I Googled “United Health Care reviews,” I was SHOCKED at the number of complaints against this company. How is it that they are getting away with this kind of behavior?
Review by Chris, July 16, 2010
We have had a horrible experience with United Healthcare. My husband and I both took the online health assessment and printed the confirmation. A few days later, my husband elected coverage. Later we found out that he was supposed to wait six days to elect coverage, so we got bumped to the high deductable plan. We filed an appeal to get the coverage changed to the plan we elected, but UHC denied us because my husband elected coverage too early. Isn’t that the stupidest thing you have ever heard? We are both healthy 26 year olds who are paying insane amounts for “health care coverage”.
We found out I was pregnant this year and we have had to pay for EVERYTHING. From the ultrasounds, to the standard blood tests. A little over $500 a month comes out of my husband’s paychecks on top of having to meet a $1,500 deductable! Then, once we meet the deductable we will still have to pay 20% of all bills up to $2,000. All in all to have this baby it has cost us $8,000 (the $1,500, plus the $4,500 that comes out of my husband’s checks, plus the $2,000 out of pocket) On top of all that, United Healthcare does not cover any prescribed prenatal vitamins (because they are vitamins), so we had to pay full price for those each month.
I can not express enough my disgust with this company and their terrible customer service. Once open enrollment begins, we are dropping United Healthcare and looking elsewhere for healthcare coverage!
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